The Celtic Knot. Shannon MacLeod

Чтение книги онлайн.

      As she dressed late Thursday afternoon, she surveyed herself in her bathroom mirror. It’s silly getting so worked up about this, she thought. It’s just dinner, and… A streak of black fur flew into the bathroom, landed on a leftover bath towel and surfed its way into the side of the tub with a thud. Bella looked around saucer-eyed, tailing whipping back and forth, and then like a shot was gone again.

      Lily found herself with a case of nervous giggles that ended abruptly when the doorbell rang at seven. Taking a deep breath, she waited several moments before opening the door. Ian’s eyes widened when he saw her. “Good evening, milady,” he said. He stared for a moment longer. “You look lovely.”

      “Thank you, milord.” She lowered her lashes with a shy smile then remembered her manners. “Please, come in and make yourself at home. I’ll just be a minute. May I get you something to drink?”

      “No, thank you,” he said, taking a seat on the couch. “It’s very pretty, your place. It looks like you.”

      “Thanks. I’ll be right back.” She hurried to the bedroom to check her makeup and hair one last time. Glancing at her reflection she called out, “I have a roommate, but I doubt you’ll see her.”

      “I believe we’ve already met,” he answered with a low chuckle.

      On the verge of saying she didn’t mean Beth, Lily walked out of the bedroom and saw Bella had jumped up beside Ian and was caught in the throes of bliss as he scratched her under her chin. Bella seems to like him, and he apparently likes her. He passes the cat test with flying colors, she thought. Ian One, Lucas Zero.

      She picked up her clutch purse and he stood in response. “You look very different,” she commented. In dark gray slacks, a winter-white oxford shirt unbuttoned at the throat, leather loafers and a two button blazer, he looked as if he might have just walked off the cover of GQ magazine. His long curls were tamed back into a neat ponytail.

      “You look rather different yourself. The black curls are very pretty on you, but your natural blond hair is…stunning–” He stopped suddenly. “Are we ready? I made reservations for seven thirty.”

      “Absolutely.” She smiled. At the sudden clatter behind them, Lily spun to see Bella trying to blend into the bookcase and seated on the spot previously occupied by the now missing picture of Lucas. The cat blinked owlishly at her. “You’ve made your point, Bella.” Lily laughed then cringed when she realized she had spoken out loud.

      “Her…point?” Ian asked.

      “Nothing,” she said, improvising quickly. “Bella was just giving her opinion on…ah…her…oh, seven thirty you said? We should probably go.”

      Though still warm and humid in the early Florida evening, a constant light breeze kept the oppressive heat at bay. Down in the parking lot, Ian pressed the remote in his pocket.

      When Lily caught sight of the sleek black German coupe she gasped. “This is your car?”

      He opened the door for her and said “It is. I’ve had it on order; just came in this week. You’ll be the first to ride in it,” he said. He turned the key and the quiet engine purred to life. Lily inhaled deeply, taking in the luxurious new car smell and petting the supple leather seats.

      Ian drove unhurriedly toward the restaurant and she found herself becoming more comfortable and relaxed. “I’m an insurance agent at my day job. We haven’t insured many of these yet,” she said, openly admiring the interior and sneaking peeks at his profile.

      “It’s a new model here in the States, I’m told. I had a similar one in London,” he said.

      Lily frowned in confusion. “Funny, you don’t quite sound English to me.”

      His laughter was intoxicating. “That’s because I’m Irish, darlin’, but I lived in London before moving here. My home’s in County Kilkenny, to be specific. Not too far from Dublin,” he said. “On the other hand, you and your enchanting accent have to be from the Southern states.”

      “Yes,” she said proudly. “One of the very few people born and raised in here in Florida.”

      “It’s СКАЧАТЬ